The Hanged Man - 12

Pause and surrender

Despite his odd position, the Hanged Man rests at peace when we reach him.  Hanging by only one foot, he is in suspension but not in pain.  While one leg is bound, the other is still moveable and the position suggests his movement and growth through the cycles of life and the wheel of change.  The leaves growing on the gallows indicate his future growth, he has surrendered to his situation and is looking at the world from a new perspective.  The halo on his head shows his divine path and the knowledge and growth he is gaining from this pause.

Rider-Waite-Smith

Meanings

  • The Hanged Man brings us to a time of suspension and surrender to our situation in preparation for a coming transition.  It is time to shift to an internal focus of self-discovery for the time being.

  • This is a call to pause and purposely seek a new perspective.  You need to get out of your comfort zone and work through some suffering and sacrifices to find your new path.

  • Sometimes, in order to break free, we have to shift our perspective and follow a path that others can’t see or understand.

  • When reversed or you see the card in a negative placement, it can indicate a resistance to change, or self-sabotage preventing you from moving forward.

Numerology - 12

Twelves often indicate wholeness and completion (12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 disciples of Jesus).   It can mark a time of spiritual transition and understanding and a point of letting go of old patterns to bring new ones in.  Twelves also echo the numerology of 3 (1+2) bringing communication, self-expression, growth, and expansion.

Tarot de Marseille

Symbolism

Gallows – the T shape of the gallows represents a Tau Cross (from the Greek letter Tau), a symbol of transformation through suffering and sacrifice.  The green leaves growing from it suggest it is alive and the man’s sacrifice will lead to his eventual growth.

Hanging Man – indicates a shift from normal life into a time of suspension and looking at things from a different perspective to gain deeper understanding.

Leg Position – The man’s legs are crossed into a fylfot cross (an ancient symbol associated with the pre-German swastika).  It indicates movement through the cycles of life, heading towards divine purpose, and seeking spiritual wisdom found in the stillness.

Halo – the halo, sometimes called a nimbus, indicates his spiritual enlightenment and divine perspective gained through this pause to reassess his position.

Expression – the man’s expression shows he is not suffering in the moment but is at peace, focused on the spiritual enlightenment he seeks.

Everyday Witch Tarot

Associations

Water – the suit of emotions and intuition, represented by the cups in tarot.  Water brings renewal, new life, emotional growth, inner wisdom, and healing.

Neptune – the planet associated with water, intuition, and dreams.  Neptune’s influence often leads us towards empathy, compassion, and creativity.  It can increase connection with others and spiritual enlightenment and understanding.

Pisces – connected with the planet Neptune and its influence on dreams, spirituality, and intuition.  Pisces are known for deep empathy, creativity, and imagination.  They tend to be intuitive, sensitive, and have deep emotional connections.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot

Archetype - those who surrender to gain perspective

  • The Hulk – Marvel

  • Odin – Norse Mythology

  • Spike - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

  • Moses – The Bible

  • Mary Lennox – The Secret Garden

The Hanging Bat - Perspective

Hanging upside down lets the Bat see things a little differently. Even in the darkest times he is able to start seeing the light. Sometimes we need to look at things a different way to see the path forward.

Change your viewpoint